Martire Francesco Giuseppe, Costantini Eugenia, d'Abate Claudia, Capria Giovanni, Piccione Emilio, Andreoli Angela
Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecological Clinic, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy.
SSD Centre for Artificial Nutrition, Clinical and Home Care, Antonio Cardarelli Regional Hospital, 86100 Campobasso, Italy.
J Clin Med. 2025 Jun 5;14(11):3987. doi: 10.3390/jcm14113987.
Endometriosis is a chronic, hormone-dependent disorder characterized by an inflammatory response. The disease affects approximately 10% of the general female population, with prevalence rates reaching 30-40% in women with dysmenorrhea and 50-60% in those experiencing infertility. In addition to pelvic pain and reproductive issues, gastrointestinal symptoms, such as acute abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, or alternating bowel habits, are frequently reported and can be highly disabling. Emerging evidence indicates that dietary patterns may modulate the inflammatory environment associated with endometriosis, potentially influencing symptom severity by affecting oxidative stress, estrogen metabolism, and levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). Diets rich in antioxidants, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and vitamins D, C, and E-alongside the avoidance of processed foods, red meat, and animal fats-may offer beneficial effects. This narrative review explores the relationship between nutrition and endometriosis, emphasizing the therapeutic potential of dietary interventions as a complementary strategy. Notably, dietary approaches may serve not only to alleviate pain and improve fertility outcomes but also to reduce lesion growth and recurrence, particularly in patients seeking pregnancy or those unable to undergo hormonal therapy due to contraindications. Furthermore, nutritional strategies may enhance postoperative recovery and act as a viable first-line therapy when conventional treatments are not applicable. A total of 250 studies were initially identified through PubMed and Scopus. After removing duplicates and non-relevant articles, 174 were included in this review. Our findings underscore the urgent need for further studies to develop evidence-based, personalized nutritional interventions for managing endometriosis-related symptoms.
子宫内膜异位症是一种慢性、激素依赖性疾病，其特征为炎症反应。该疾病影响着约10%的普通女性人群，痛经女性的患病率达30 - 40%，不孕女性的患病率则为50 - 60%。除盆腔疼痛和生殖问题外，胃肠道症状如急性腹痛、便秘、腹泻或排便习惯改变也经常被报道，且可能严重影响生活。新出现的证据表明，饮食模式可能调节与子宫内膜异位症相关的炎症环境，通过影响氧化应激、雌激素代谢和性激素结合球蛋白（SHBG）水平，潜在地影响症状严重程度。富含抗氧化剂、多不饱和脂肪酸（PUFA）以及维生素D、C和E的饮食，同时避免加工食品、红肉和动物脂肪，可能会带来有益效果。本叙述性综述探讨了营养与子宫内膜异位症之间的关系，强调饮食干预作为一种补充策略的治疗潜力。值得注意的是，饮食方法不仅可以缓解疼痛、改善生育结局，还可以减少病灶生长和复发，特别是对于寻求怀孕的患者或因禁忌症无法接受激素治疗的患者。此外，当传统治疗不适用时，营养策略可能会促进术后恢复并成为可行的一线治疗方法。最初通过PubMed和Scopus共检索到250项研究。在去除重复和不相关文章后，本综述纳入了174项研究。我们的研究结果强调，迫切需要进一步开展研究，以制定基于证据的个性化营养干预措施来管理与子宫内膜异位症相关的症状。
